Two piece bottle carton



Feb. 18, 1964 w. c. HAssELo l 3,121,523

TWO PIECE BOTTLE CARTON Filed Oct. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l@ 1&2 175 J0 i E@ Fb- 18, "1964 w. c. HAssELo 3,121,523

TWO PIECE BOTTLE CARTON Filed Oct. 51, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,121,523 TW@ lIECE BUTLE CARTON William C. Hassele, Berwyn, Pa., assigner to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 234,304 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) The present invention relates to paperboard cartons and more particularly a two-piece, carry-out type carton for bottles and similar articles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a simple, sturdy and inexpensive carton for articles of either cylindrical, or other specific shapes, where it is desired to pack a plurality of the articles in a single carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of paperboard carton having separate, readily connectable sections, formed of different caliper or grade of board to achieve a high degree of carrying quality from a minimum cost of materials.

A still further object of the invention is to provide effective form of open-end carton having advantages of economy in the utilization of materials comparable or superior to wraparound type cartons, but at the same time avoiding the necessity vfor the use of expensive and highly specialized machinery in the operations of wrapping and securing the carton around an article group.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description pro ceeds.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carton as it appears fully assembled but, for the sake of clarity, omit ting the showing of contents therein;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a corner portion of the top of the carton;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the carton as it appears when containing bottles;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the preferred form of blank to lform the lower part of the cmton including the bottom and side wall panels; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the preferred form of blank for forming the upper part of the carton.

The carton, as herein disclosed, is particularly advantageous for -packaging of bottled beverages such as beer which are best preserved by being shielded from light. The lower section of the carton is formed with upturned panels on the ends ofthe bottom wall. These panels may be made sufficiently high to over-lap the lower ends of labels aliixed to the contained bottles. The upper section of the carton is preferably preglued and so delivered to the user. This upper section is in the form of an inverted tray having a narrow top panel with inclined panels at the sides of the ltop panel. The ends extend at right angles to the top panel and are secured to the ends of the inclined panels. When the upper section is in place, its ends extend downwardly of the open ends of the carton to a location somewhat below the tops of the usual labels on the bottles, thus tending to shield the upper ends of the bottles from exposure to the light.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the upper and lower sections are designated generally at 1 and 2, and such sections are preferably formed from blanks as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. The blank for the lower section is scored transversely at 3 and 4 to define an elongated rectangular bottom 'panel 5 and side wall 3,121,523 Parenteel Fel). 18, 1964 ICC panels 6 and 7. At the outer edges of the side panels are narrow panels VS and 9 hinged along score lines 1i) and 11.

Along the ends of the bottom and side wall panels are strips indicated as a whole at 12, 12 divided into extended sections at the ends of the bottom and side panels designated at 13 and 14, 14, respectively. Between the ends of extended section 13 and the adjoining section 14 are triangular connecting gussets 15, 15 deiined by score lines 16, 17 converging inwardly of the blank and meeting at score line 18l along which the extended panel sections are hinged. For a purpose to be later explained, the score line 17 is terminated short of the outer edge of the extended section 13 and joins converging score lines 17a and i1717 at their meeting point.

The lower sections are `preferably prepared for use before leaving the box plant by folding the strips 12, 12 inward and securing the extended sections 14, 14, if desired, against their attached side panels, leaving section 13 unsecured. When the side panels are thereafter brought to vertical position relatively to the bottom panel, the sections 13, 13 will be forced upwardly away from the bottom panel and will assume an upright position, as shown in FIGURE 1. In the event it is not desired to secure the section 1d against the side wall panels, the side strips may be merely folded over and held in such folded condition until the cartons are ready for use.

The blank for the upper section is cut and scored to provide an elongated, rectangular top panel 22 and side panels 23, 213 hinged to panel 22 along score lines 24, 24. At the ends of panel 22, hinged along score lines 25, 25, are end panels 26, 26. As shown in FIGURE l, the panels 23 extend at a downward and outward inclination from top panel 22, and end panel 25 extends between the ends of panels 23, 23 in a position at right angles to these panels as well as panel 22.

For the purpose of securing end panel 26 in position there are provided ilaps 27, 27 at each end of the inclined panels 23, 23. These flaps are lirst folded inward after which the end panel 26 is secured to such flaps by adhesive or other desired securing means.

In order to strengthen the panel 26 in its secured position, Wing portions 28, 28 are formed on the outer free edges of the inclined panels 23. These wing portions are hinged along fold lines 29 and carry liaps 30, arranged to be folded into the same plane as flaps 27 and secured on the inside surface of the end panels 26.

Along the score lines 24 there are formed. die-cut openings 31, 31 through which portions of bottle caps 32 may project in order to prevent shifting of the upper ends of the bottles held within the carton.

Means are provided for securing the upper section of the carton upon the lower section so that the lower edges of the inclined panels 23 are connected firmly and accurately along the fold lines 1li and 11 between the side walls and attached narrow panels 3 and 9. For this purpose spaced, U-shaped cuts 33, 33 are formed in the side walls with the ends of the cuts terminating at the fold lines 1t? and 11. Tabs 34, 34, formed in making the cuts are left in place. Wing tabs 35, 35 are formed at the free edges of the inclined panels 23 and are hinged to such panels along fold lines 36. The wing portions 37, 37 are hinged along fold lines 38, 33. The tabs 35 are spaced to conform with the U-shaped cuts in the side walls and, when it is desired to secure the upper section onto the lower, it is only necessary to press inwardly upon the central parts of tabs 35, forcing them inwardly of the U-shaped cuts. The width of the openings formed by these Cuts is less than the width of the tabs, thus causing the wings 37 to be deflected or partially folded out of the plane of the central part of the tab while the tab o is being forced through the opening. The tabs 34 within the U-shaped openings are swung inwardly and after the wing tabs have completely entered the openings, pressure on them is released. This results in the wings 37 moving toward their original position, causing them to engage against the inside surfaces of the side wall panels and effectively lock the tabs in place. The tabs 34 also tend to move toward their original positions within the planes of the side wall panels when pressure on the wing tabs is released. This serves additionally to lock the wing tabs firmly within the openings.

It is to be noted that the wing tabs and U-shaped cuts are located at points aligned with the voids between the contained bottles, as best shown in FIGURE 4. Thus, the tabs are free to swing inwardly of the carton without interference from the bottle surfaces.

Cuts are formed in the top panel 22, indicated at 4t), to provide linger openings for lifting the carton. The tabs 41 formed by the cuts are left in place and foldable along fold lines 42. When it is desired to carry the iilled carton, the tabs 4i are forced inwardly and may serve as reinforcement for the panel 22 as well as cushioning means for the thumb and linger of the person carrying the `filled carton.

In the assembly of the carton around a group of bottles a convenient method is to carry a succession of lower sections on a loading conveyor with the bottom panel and side wall panels held flat in a common plane. In this event the side strips l2, 12 would be temporarily folded outwardly, if previously folded. In certain instances the lower sections need not have the strips prefolded over the bottom and side panels and the folding may be handled manually or mechanically at the time of assembly of the contents within the carton.

After a group of two rows of bottles has been delivered to the bottom panel the side strips l2, 12 may be folded inward and, at the same time, the side wall panels are swung upward. lf desired, the side wall panels may be swung first to vertical position. The side panel sections 14, 14 may then be swung inward, brushing past the bottle surfaces with somewhat of a snap action, and will be held in position by the bottles, substantially as shown in FIGURE 5. The movement of the sections 14 to positions against their attached panels serves to swing the sections 13 upward in a concurrent action where such sections will then remain in irm engagement with the end bottles of the rows.

After the side panels have been brought to upright position the narrow panels S and 9 are preferably folded inward to overlie the bottle shoulders and, in this position, these panels serve as guide surfaces for positioning the upper section of the carton on the lower section. The upper section is then brought down over the bottle tops with the locking tabs and wing portions 28, 28 at the corners of the upper section overlapping the outside surfaces oi' the side panels. The top panel 22 will come to rest upon the bottle tops or caps and the proportioning of the upper section is such that the lock tabs 35 are brought into accurate register with the tab receiving openings 33.

When the upper section has been brought into position the tabs 35 are pressed inwardly through openings 33 and then released to lock the tabs in place as above described. Due to the wing sections on the locking tabs the upper carton section will be held firmly from shifting upward relative to the lower and a snug package is produced.

By the provision of the short score lines 17a and 17h, the section 13 and gusset 15 tend to follow the general contours of the end bottles to provide a snug contact with the lower parts of the bottles, as best seen in FIG- URE 5.

Due to employing upper and lower carton sections which are formed from separate blanks, it is readily feasible to select grades of paperboard with the degree of strength required for maximum safety of contents without overstrengthening any portions as is frequently the case in cartons made from a single blank. By selecting stock for the upper section which has strong resistance to tearing, it is possible to assure that the top panel 22 will be adequate for carrying the package even though providing only a single thickness of material. The lower section, employing the extra material contained in the upfolded sections 13 and vertical infolded sections 14, 14, may be made of adequate strength by employing paperboard of lower grade then that used for the upper carton section. This selective use of material thus results in economies that are usually not possible in single blank cartons.

When it is desired to open the carton this may be done readily by an upward pull at the edge of the inclined panel near the lock tabs, to tear olf the tabs singly, or the tabs may be removed from the locking openings by insertion of a knife or other pointed instrument under the tip of the tab and prying it from the opening.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, various changesmay be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

l claim:

1, A top section for a two-piece, open-end carton adapted for use with a lower section which includes a bottom panel and two vertical side panels, such top section comprising an elongated, rectangular top wall panel, inclined panels of a length equal to the top panel, and of generally rectangular shape, hingedly connected along one side to the respective sides of the top wall panel and extending downward and outward in angular relation to the top panel, an end panel hinged at each end of the top panel, said end panel being disposed vertically, yat right angles to the top panel and in meeting relation to the adjacent ends of the inclined panels, the lower edge portions of the vertical end panels being extended below the level of the lower edges of the inclined panels and having lateral edge portions each extending downward perpendicular to the plane of the top panel at the point where the lower, outer corner of the inclined panel meets the vertical panel, the free longitudinal edge of each inclined panel having thereon, at each outer end portion, a narrow panel hinged to the inclined panel along a line parallel to the hinge line between the inclined panel and the ltop wall panel, a securing flap hinged to the outer end of each narrow panel along a line conforming to the adjacent lateral, perpendicularly extending edge of the vertical end panel, whereby each of such hinged iiaps may be folded at right angles to its attached narrow panel and respectively secured fiat against the surface of the vertical end panel adjacent its respective perpendicularly extending edges.

2. A folding paperboard carton for a group of uniform height bottles having upwardly tapered neck sections, said carton being formed in two pieces including a lower section which comprises an elongated, rectangular bottom panel and two upright, rectangular side wall panels carried on opposite sides of the bottom panel, such lower section being of a size to enclose at least four bottles arranged in two rows, a top section for the carton cornprising yan elongated top wall panel designed to bear iiatwise on the bottle tops, a downwardly and outwardly inclined, rectangular panel hinged on opposite sides of the top panel, each side wall having hinged on its upper edge a narrow panel foldable inwardly of the side walls when in vertical position and adapted to contact flat against the tapered neck sections of the bottles when enclosed within the carton, said outwardly inclined panels cach having an extent at right angles to its hinge line whereby its lower edge portion will overlap said inwardly folded narrow panels on the side wall panels, spaced tabreceiving openings formed in the upper edge portion of each side Wall pa-nel below the line of connection of the side wall panel and the narrow panel carried thereby, the upper part of each of said openings being terminated at said hinge line, swingable tabs formed integrally on the free edge of each of the inclined panels on the top wall, such tabs being spaced -to conform with the spacing of the openings in the side wall panels so as to be receivable into such openings, the tabs each having oppositely extended, swingable wing sections `adapted to pass through the tab-receiving openings and lock against the edges of the paperboard at the tops of the openings to yform a snug closure construction when the top panel is bearing flat upon the tops of a group of bottles which are to be placed Within the bottom section of the carton.

3. A carton, as dened in claim 2, in which the top wall panel of the separate top section is provided with carrying means for the carton, such top section being formed with Ipaperboard having substantially greater strength characteristics than that of the lower section of the carton, whereby the :top panel requires no reinforcement in order to support a loaded carton.

4. A carton, as defined in claim 2, in which the top wall panel of the separate top section is formed with spaced finger openings for carrying purposes, such top section being formed from paperboard having substantially greater strength characteristics than the lower sec tion, whereby the top wall panel requires no reinforcement in order to support a loaded carton.

5, A bottle package comprising, in combination, a group of six uniform size, cylindrical bottles with tapered neck sections, arranged in two rows of three bottles each, a two-piece paperboard carton enclosing the bottle group, such carton including a lower section which comprises an elongated, rectangular bottom panel on which the bottle group rests, and two upright, rectangular side Wall panels carried on opposite sides of the bottom panel, a top section for the carton comprising an elongated top eier,

wall panel bearing at on the tops of the bottles, a downwardly and outwardly inclined, rectangular panel carried on each of the longitudinal sides of the top panel, each side wall panel having connected along its upper edge a narrow panel inclined inwardly and upwardly to bear flat against the tapered neck sections of the bottles at the sides of the bottle group, the lower edge portions of ,the two downwardly Eand outwardly inclined panels of the top section overlapping the respective upwardly inclined, narrow panels of the lower section, the upper edge portion of each side wall panel being formed with spaced tab-receiving openings disposed along the line of connection of the side wall and the narrow panel carried thereby, and located respectively at points aligned with the voids between the contained bottles, the upper part of each of said openings being terminated at said line ef connection, swingable tabs formed integrally on the free edge of each of the inclined panels on the top wall, such tabs being movable into their openings with a swinging movement and being spaced yto conform with the spacing of the openings in the side wall panels so as to be receivable within such openings, the tabs having oppositely extended, swingable wing sections adapted to pass. through the openings with the tabs and lock against the edges of the paperboard at the tops of the openings to form a snug closure construction with the top wall panel bearing firmly latwise against the tops of the contained bottles.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,741,369 Kondolf Dec. 31, 1929 1,945,878 Breton Feb. 6, 1934 2,507,978 Jubin May 16, 1950 2,511,550 Simms June 13, 1950 2,827,222 Buttery Mar. 18, 1958 2,832,182 McGihon Apr. 29, 1958 2,974,848 Fielding Mar. 14, 1961 3,027,062 Huss et al Mar. 27, 1962 

1. A TOP SECTION FOR A TWO-PIECE, OPEN-END CARTON ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A LOWER SECTION WHICH INCLUDES A BOTTOM PANEL AND TWO VERTICAL SIDE PANELS, SUCH TOP SECTION COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, RECTANGULAR TOP WALL PANEL, INCLINED PANELS OF A LENGTH EQUAL TO THE TOP PANEL, AND OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE, HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ONE SIDE TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDES OF THE TOP WALL PANEL AND EXTENDING DOWNWARD AND OUTWARD IN ANGULAR RELATION TO THE TOP PANEL, AN END PANEL HINGED AT EACH END OF THE TOP PANEL, SAID END PANEL BEING DISPOSED VERTICALLY, AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE TOP PANEL AND IN MEETING RELATION TO THE ADJACENT ENDS OF THE INCLINED PANELS, THE LOWER EDGE PORTIONS OF THE VERTICAL END PANELS BEING EXTENDED BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE LOWER EDGES OF THE INCLINED PANELS AND HAVING LATERAL EDGE PORTIONS EACH EXTENDING DOWNWARD PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE TOP PANEL AT THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER, OUTER CORNER OF THE INCLINED PANEL MEETS THE VERTICAL PANEL, THE FREE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF EACH INCLINED PANEL HAVING THEREON, AT EACH OUTER END PORTION, A NARROW PANEL HINGED TO THE INCLINED PANEL ALONG A LINE PARALLEL TO THE HINGE LINE BETWEEN THE INCLINED PANEL AND THE TOP WALL PANEL, A SECURING FLAP HINGED TO THE OUTER END OF EACH NARROW PANEL ALONG A LINE CONFORMING TO THE ADJACENT LATERAL, PERPENDICULARLY EXTENDING EDGE OF THE VERTICAL END PANEL, WHEREBY EACH OF SUCH HINGED FLAPS MAY BE FOLDED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ITS ATTACHED NARROW PANEL AND RESPECTIVELY SECURED FLAT AGAINST THE SURFACE OF THE VERTICAL END PANEL ADJACENT ITS RESPECTIVE PERPENDICULARLY EXTENDING EDGES. 